"Gluten Free" has officially gone too far.

I’m not sure why there is an issue here? My son has a gluten allergy and breaks out when he plays with play dough that isn’t gluten free.

Niche product, sure. But definitely a market.

59

Okay, the play-dough maybe... but the sand? Would you ever buy your child sand and worry about the gluten content?

-21
- Same concept. Kinetic sand not having gluten in it is initially why we swapped to it.
  
  Truthfully having a big Gluten Free label on it just makes it easier for parents to know kids with gluten allergies can play with it.
  
  But it wasn’t something that was obvious to us without researching it specifically.
  
  I mean it’s like buying a hairless cat if you’re allergic to them. Like I still want to play with a cat, I just need one that doesn’t cause issues for me due to dander.
  
  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
  
  33
- It’s not normal sand, it’s kinetic sand. There is more in that container than just sand. Most notably silicone oil, dyes, etc.
  
  People don’t know what other ingredients are in there, and it sits on the shelf right next to other smushy things that can cause certain kids to have an allergic reaction.
  
  5

My son has celiac disease. Any amount of gluten man's him vomit violently for an hour. He's now old enough not to eat the playdo, but even the tiniest amount in his hands when he eats can be really bad. So I was happy this was available to ease this problem.

I also know hipsters will buy it just for eating it secretly at night in their basement because it's gluten free

26

Someone else said their child would have an issue with the playdough, so fair enough. But the sand? Why would anyone think that sand had gluten in it in the first place?

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- My teenage son and I both have celiac disease, but the rest of my family does not. We have to have separate parts of the kitchen for anything gluten related, including separate toasters. We have to wash our hands after handling anything not gluten free, otherwise we risk some low-level cross- contamination issues which can cause big issues for either of us. Been there, done that, did not enjoy my immune system attacking my intestines from it.
  
  I get that this struggle is not well understood by anyone who hasn't had to deal with it, but allergies and autoimmune reactions (like celiac disease) are no joke. Having to miss school or work can be pretty devastating, not to mention the gastrointestinal issues that can cause those absence.
  
  Sure, people can make kinetic sand. I can also make gluten free bread and cake. Quite often, the convenience of buying something is a pretty good thing if it fits the budget and makes it easier to focus on other things in life. So, I'm wondering if your point is more about anti consumerism than it is about pervasive use of gluten free labeling. I'm fine with that, but call it by what it is.
  
  8

Gluten free play doh kinda makes sense. Kids will put it in their mouth and IIRC, it's non-toxic because it's mostly made with flour and water. Making it gluten free and also non-toxic means kids with gluten allergies won't end up having a reaction if they eat it.

I guess the sand makes sense too with the same logic? But I wouldn't have thought that would normally contain gluten anyway 🤷🏻‍♂️

16

Yeah and in bad cases i heard even the slight contamination from other similar non gluten free products near it can cause severe reactions in people eith gluten intolerance. My main question is what you also asked, why does normal magic sand have gluten in it?

3

Why has it gone too far? Can children not be coeliac?

12

Means you’re probably expecting children to eat it? At which point you might have other problems?

-1
- Kids eat everything 😂
  
  7
- Have you ever seen a child?
  
  3
Are they planning on kids eating the sand?

-4
- Honestly yes. Why it's also labeled peanut and soy free.
  
  15

And yet my dad still has trouble finding anything that won't kill him if he eats it.

9

My brother found gluten free chocolate milk being sold in a big bottle, so we laughed real hard and bought two. He got more than halfway through before lookin at it and saying out loud, as we were heading to the camp site, "oh wait, I'm lactose intolerant" his girlfriend wasn't pleased, but I didn't have to share a tent with him so I was fine, an I got the rest!

8

Well considering how much kids just eat whatever the fuck they feel like, it's not the worst idea ever. I mean kids can have a gluten allergy, technically, just not most of the ones who's parents claim they do.

6

They can take gluten out of dream sand but they can't take dream sand out of gluten!

5

Ok, but is it PFAS free? Huh?

3

Similar to what other have said, I'm allergic to gluten. I helped my nephew with a middle school project where he had to build a tower from dry spaghetti sticks and marshmallows, and about five minutes in my fingertips were extremely itchy.

I also know my version of this is very mild compared to some.

2